India has stepped up surveillance after a spate of cases in neighboring China.
People from China and four other Asian countries must present a negative Covid-19 test report before entering India. On Tuesday, a program was held to test whether the hospital could handle the surgery.
According to official data, India currently has only 3,400 active cases of coronavirus. But the news of the outbreak in China and the memory of two deadly waves of Covid in 2020 and 2021 in India have scared many people.
But experts say there is no cause for concern at this time. "The increase in the epidemic in China is in line with expectations, if you have a population that is susceptible to the virus, cases will increase.
China is grappling with severe cases of Covid after it began to abandon its so-called zero-Covid policy which mandated strict lockdowns, restrictions and border closures. The country is trying to boost vaccinations for its vulnerable elderly population as the number of cases overwhelms the health system.
This disease has caused some experts to doubt that the vaccines used in China - Sinovac and Sinopharm - can provide long-term protection. . "If you don't have immunity, you're going to get more infections that will affect the elderly and the immunocompromised population," says virologist Dr. Jacob John. In the past few months, India has reported four cases of Covid-19 caused by BF.7 - all patients have recovered, according to health officials.
“Covid is still there, people are still sick and in hospital. So it is not that we are free of Covid, but it is like another respiratory disease, like flu," said epidemiologist Dr Lalit Kant.
The low employment rate in India can be attributed to the restrictions that India has experienced in the last three years.
Dr A Fathahudeen, a healthcare expert who has treated thousands of Covid patients, said India's 'hybrid defense' against Covid-19 is 'satisfactory' as many people have taken the vaccine two or get natural contraceptives. infection in the first place.
He also explained that the vaccines used in India are "more effective than those used in China". India has released more than 2.2 billion units of Covid-19 vaccines so far, including the two-phase and booster, which India calls "precautionary payments".
He says people should take booster pills if they haven't already - only about 27% of the population have. It's a call that other professionals agree with.
"Over time, the level of antibiotics decreases. So the third injection is always useful, it will increase the level of immunity,” says Dr Lahariya, adding that it is good for people over 60.
For others, it's a personal call."
Experts also agree with the government's decision to promote genome sequencing that allows scientists to identify new species.
Dr Fathahudeen said, "The current experimental plan of sequencing the genome of 2% of foreign travelers is enough to identify any new species."
Dr John said the best mantra for the government and the common man to follow was to "hope for the best and prepare for the worst". He says, proposing to create "sustainable and long-term behavior change.
India lifted its mask-wearing ban earlier this year as infection rates dropped, and it's common to see people in crowded places without any precautions. The key is "be careful, cover up and check the news," Dr John said.
Dr Fathahudeen agreed, saying that unruly crowds should be discouraged and people should wear masks if large gatherings cannot be avoided.
